Decatur Daily Democrat, Volume 26, Number 180, Decatur, Adams County, 31 July 1928 — Page 1

I WEATHB* ; portio”- I

SOUTH MJLFORD IS SWEPT BY FIRE

JmFtomobile ySED IN MURDER UT ROANOKE. IND. Is Held Today WOMAN KILLED BY OI’TSTANDING EVENT Huntington,' Ind., July 31.— i iHSI — Two important develop-, mentscame today in the mysterious murder case of Mrs. Li Ballard. 31, of Muskegon, Mi f h whose body was found in ; ome berry bushes north of K »£wv*'lWnt, r d ,t the order of the circuit court Id Pr B W. Rhamey. of Fort Wayne, ’ ho logist. »o un<l ,hat ,he Ca “ He ° f £ death was a fracture at the base, „( the skull, caused by a blow on the (lari Rudlcel learned that uis Ballard s Buick sedan in which she and “Mickey" Alfee. a Muskeon factory worker, left Detroit. Mich., on July 15. hail been located at Louisviile Kv. he search for Alfee. accordingly. switched to Louisville. Coroner's Verdict Upheld The finding of Dr. Rhamey bore out the verdict of Coroner J. M. Nie that the woman had died from a blow in the face. The coroner had been under fire for failure to hold an autopsy. The information about Mrs. Ballard's automobile, a 1927 Buick sedan. Michigan licenses 846.146, came to the sheriff's office today from Undertaker M W. Koontz, at Roanoke. Koontz i pt the information from Fred Hall, o( Detroit. Michigan, a brother-in-law of Mrs. Ballard, who weTit trt’RTirmnke to arrange for shipping the b.ody to Muskegon. Asked why he had not reported the fart to the authorities that Mrs. Ballard’s car was found, Hall explained that he was afraid that “newspaper men would get hold of the story." Dr. Rhamey took sections of Mrs. Ballard's lungs, heart and other internal organs to Fort Wayne for further examination in his laboratory. He said his repot t would be ready in about two weeks. Meanwhile. Sheriff Rudicel had no further word from "George (’. Claudson." who wrote from the Statler hotel .in Cleveland. Ohio, that he could explain the murder if he were guar" anteed “fair play.’’ o — City Council To Hold Special Meeting Tonight A special meeting of the city council will lie held tonight at the city hall. Members are urged to be present. The session will be a short one, Mayor Getrge Krick announced. o — r Robert R. Green Enters Irene Byron Sanitarium n bert r. Gieen. 709 Walnut street, was taken to the Irene Byron Sanitarium. north of Fort Wayne, this morntag- The tiip was made in the LobensMn and Hower ambulance, the pabrtit being accompanied by his wife jnd sister. Mr. Green is reported to are stood the trip very nicely, des--1 o the fact that he has been bedfast w more than a year, and had to be msen on a cot. BEV, SCHROEDER LEAVES B E R N E Large Crowd Bids Mennonte lastor Farewell At Sunday Night Service P. B R rn t^ Uly , 31 ~’ (Spec,al > “The Rev. Mennon-,1 ° e ' ler ’ pastor the First i la ” several C I UrCh ° f Herne far the ! fam ‘lv wil L 8 ’ ? get,ler w *th bis morning p^' e Be,lle Wednesday where R e ' reeman - South Dakota. Wesito.7 S( 'hroeder will betfome Newly 1000 teenian JUni ° r C011e«p- --' tarewelt J , Persons attended the '•er, la «t Sunda* he ’ d f ° r ReV ' Schroetes and U " d B as ? ven l»g-Former nremfort Wn „ i6l “ 1S , Ot the church from tur ’nd other mw n ° n ’ Monroe > DecaMl ’»ion ar y ™ were prs sent. The ‘B’missed thni, Refornie(l churches • fniilß - in o.i t hT?K eS f ° r the ev- ‘ "" Kht Join in i r the eon ßrp«ations tarewep bidding R ev Schroeder

DECATUR DAILY DEMOCRAT *

Vol. XXVI. No. IHO.

Way Down Yonder in the Cornfield ■' ♦ ■ ''-’W ■■ v ■• ■ • * • •- - ’ ixtb * MMI

Except for the loss of its helium, the army dirigible, TC-5-251. forced to make a “convenience” lauding in a cornfield near' Williamsburg, Va„ was undamaged. The picture shows the deflated bag being guarded pending shipment back to its home hangar. Noth'ng, but kindling wood and a little twisted metal

TO INSTALL NEW TRAFFIC LIGHT City To Change Type Os Signal At Second And Monroe Street Crossing A new automatic traffic signal light will be placed in the center of the North Second street and Monroe street intersection and the old overhead light will be removed. The new traffic light is similar to the one located at the Five Points cressing at intersection of Mercer Avenue, Adams. Second and Winchester streets. The light will not be placed uu wUUgir.joUHdalicn, however it extending only about It) inches above the street, extending upward several feet. The circumference of the signa! post is about 44 inches. Red danger lights are studded around the bottom cf the sign. The new signal light is called a ; "Signaphore” and is made by the Tokheim Pump company, of Fort Wayne. The lights guiding and directing traffic will be the same as on the Five Points light, there being a red light for ‘'Stop,” and amber light for "Change”, and a green light for "Go”. Wcrk on the foundation for the post will commence tomorrow. Since the! pest will take up a certain amount of space in the center of the street, the council may pass an ordinance permitting drivers of trucks anil vans to 1 cut the corners, while other ears will be required to drive around, the post. No action has been taken in this regard, however. The overhead signal light will be placed at some ether street cross ng Places which the council have in mind are the Third street crossings at Monroe and Madison streets and Monroe street at Fifth street. 0 Baron Von Huenefeld Reported Seriously 111 Be:lin. July 31 —(U.R) — Baron Von Huenefeld, of the German trans-Atlan-tic airplane Bremen, was said officially to be in serious condition today at-1 ter an operation tor appendicitis at a i Leal sanatorium. Prof. Bier performed the operation. Sanatorium officials said Von Huetiefeld’s condition was “serious, although as satisfactory as could be expect -d in the circumstances.” Q Verne Bohnke Accepts Position In Lansing, Mich. Mi. and Mis. Verne Bohnke former Decatur residents, visited in this city, today enroute from Bedford, Indiana, by automobile, to Lansing. Michigan Mr. Bohnke who for several months past has held a position as flying Instructor and field manager for Ihe Stone City Airways Inc., of Bedford, has resigned to accept a position with the Skf Air Service, of Lansing. Michigan. At the Lansing field, he will have Stlnson-Detioiter cabin monoplanes and will be an instructor in flying as well as a cross country flyer. Mr. Behnke assumes his new duties tomorrow, August 1. 0 __—— Man’s Body Found In Field Near Rushville Rushvllc, Ind., July 31 —(U.R) —Possibility that the man found slain in a wheat field five miles south of here may be that of a Cincinnati, Ohio bootleg war victim was expressed today by police of that city as Rush county authorities sought to establish the identity of the man.

ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ADAMS COUNTY

State, N'atluaal And luleruMlluuMl Nena

William Allen White Withdraws His Charges Against Gov. Al Smith

Ry Thomas L. Stokes, UP Staff Correspondent New York. July 31. —William Allen White. Republican editor of Emporia, Kans., today withdrew his charges against the legislative record of Gov ernot Alfred E. Smith, "insofar as they affect his votes on gambling and prostitution." but said his views were unchanged on "his position as to the saloon.” "Governor Smith certainly is entitled to fair treatment.” White said. i T always have tried to fight fair.” White's acQvity has stirred up unusual excitement iii the political camps here. He made a speech in Kansas several days ago which attracted attention and which Smith ankwered. \ White came her e on his way to Europe, but he may not sail Wednesday if the debate grows warmer. Issues Statement The Kansas editor's statement follows: "Yesterday talking to Walter Lipprnann of the World, a friend of Governor Smith and of mine for many I years, I learned that Governor Smith was deeply agrieved that I should GEORGE BRENNAN IS CRITICALLY ILL Illinois Democratic Leader Reported Near Death In Chicago Hospital Chicago July 31—(U.R)— George E. Brennan. Illinois Democratic leader. I I was reported improved at John B. ■ Murphy hospital here today. Brennan ’is suffering from septic poisoning ! which developed from an inf-'c’od I tooth. * He was reported near death last night and three physicians spent the night at his bedside. However, early this morning he was reported resting easily and at 9:30 A. M. hospital attendants told the United Press that a I change for the better had been noted. Chicago. July 31—(U.R)—George E. I Brennan. Democratic national committeeman trom Illinois and long t. leader in the party’s affairs in this state, is near death in a hospital here. Last rites of the Catholic church had been administered and the political leader’s family was at the bedside, infected tooth, according to hospital atBrennan’s condition was caused by a tendants. his illness had been kept secret. Officials of the John B. Murphy hospital in which Brennan is a patient said they could give no detailed Infor mation. Brennan was a leader in Gov. Alfred E. Smith's pre-convention campaign. o Vigo County Leads In Indiana Coal Production Washington, July 31—(U.RH-Eignres on coal production in Indiana for 1927 announced by the United States Bureau of mines, shows Vigo county leads all otheis in the state with 2.700,573 tons. Other high producing counties follow in the order named are Sullivan Pike, Vermillion. Knox and Warrick. Total production for the state was 17,935,758 tons.

Decatur. Indiana, Tuesday, July 31, 1928.

is left of these two car vestibules after a collision on New York's “L" which injured more than three-score persons. At the extreme left is ladder down which firemen carried terrified women and children, while in car windows hang chemical hose lines used to fght blaze.

| charge him with protecting gambling and prostitution in his assembly record. "I can understand after considering what Mr. Lippmann said that the governor in casting those votes against those reform bills might honestly have felt that the bills were unconstitutional or were not enforcible on infringed upon personal liberty or encouraged police blackmail. “These bills did not so impress others who voted for the bills but Governor Smith certainly Is entitled to failtreatment. I always have tried to fight fair. I have never consciously questioned any man's motives and so this morning before the morning papers have come and before I know ; what if any reply Governor Smith has made to my statement yesterday I desire to withdraw the charges formally insofar as they affected his votes on gambling and prostitution but not his position as to the saloon. "Ou the question of the menace of tammany and of Governor Smith’s tammany record for the open saloon, the whole issue of the campaign is coming. Organized protected ■prostitution is quickly passing out of American life and that issue is not vital. "But vital or not I could not in I I good conscience press this issue ( I realizing that Governor Smith, whom i greatly admire for his many high ] qualities, feels that my charges question the purity of his motives which | always should be granted in any | political controversy. So the ten or a dozen votes on gambling and prosti-1 (CONTI * , ' v ßr> ON PMJR TWO! O Vessel’s Boiler Explodes; Three Men Reported Killed — New York, July 31—(INS)—Throe nun were reported killed, and a fourth escaped serious injuries today wlien the steam lighter Chancellor blew up and sank off the foot of Edgewater street, Staten Island. The vessel’s boiler exploded as the crew was getting up steam to work on the salvage of the Army dredge Navesink, which went down in the aar- ; rows several weeks ago after colliding I with another ship. i o Body Os Well-Dressed Man Found In Chicago Chicago, July 31—(INS)—The body of a well- dressed man, about 30 years old with two bullet wounds in chest, was found on a garbage heap in an alley here today. Police uncovered evidence indicating the man had been shot in a “soft drink" parlor on Roosevelt road, then dragged through a rear door to the alley when the body was found. The owner of the soft drink parlor is being sought. — —o One Killed, Four Hurt As Aerial Bomb Explodes Chicago. July 31—(INS) —A toll of one dead and four probably fatally injured was the result of an aerial bomb explosion here today. The blast rocked the entire spqrtsman’s ball park section. The detonation was heard for several miles. Michael Ferrarra. the dead man, was standing in the midst of over 3,00 t) Italian celebrants at a banquet when the bomb was dropped among the crowd. His body was torn to bits.

WORK IS STARTED I ON PAGEANT FOR OLD HOME WEEK Work Allotted To Various Committees; Rehearsals Start Soon EXPECTED TO BE OUTSTANDING FEATUR The committees on "Pageantry,"! appointed by the program .committee I of the Old Home Week organization, I j met last evening at the Old Adams, | County Bank, and reviewed the pae'eant to be given, alloting the work of ■ the various committees. “Adams County. Yesterday and To day,” is the name of the pageant which is scheduled to be presented by a local cast during the Old Home Week celebration September 10 to 15., The pageant will be given on Tuesday of that week, but it may be found necessary to give it more than the l one evening, to accommodate the crowds. The pageant is to be a free attraction, the expenses incurred in production Jo be paid for from the | Old Home Week fund. Directors Are Chosen Mrs. .1. R. Blair and Miss Margaret Niblick will have charge of the direction of the pageant and will be assisted by Mrs. L. A. Holthouse, Miss Eleanor Pumphrey and Miss Jeanette Clark Miss Grace Coffee and Miss Jean-1 ette Clark Will have charge of secur- j ing talent for the production and are i already at work, filling out the various dancing groups Anyone asked to take part in this production may feel honored for it is the intention of the committee in charge to make it one of the big features of the entire, week. ' Mrs. Dan Tyndall and Mrs. C. E. Bell will have charge of the music] for the production. They have al- i ready ordered the special music for, | the dance numbers and will make arrangements for the band or orchestra ] which will be used in accompanying ! the pageant, and also for any special ] music features which might develop during the coursh of rehearsals. Costume Committee. Chosen Miss Elizabeth Peterson and Mrs. I '•'rank Downs will select a committee - to assist them in costuming the pro-1 duction. Upon them, will devolve the (CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO) THREE BOYS ARE ; NOW LIFE SCOUTS Robert Hite, James Burk And Harry Dailey Are City’s First Life Scouts At an impressive meeting of the Decatur Boy Scout Court of Honor, held in the Industrial Association rooms last night, three Decatur boys became Life Scouts, the first Life Scouts Decatur has ever had. The three boys so honored are Robert Hite. James Burk and Harry Dailey. A Life Scout is the second highest rank a Scout may attain, the highest being an Eagle Scout. They start as a Tenderfoot and then pass through l the following ranks: Second Class. First Class. Star Scout, Life Scoiit and Eagle Scout. To become a Life Scout after reaching the First Class, a Scout must qualify for ten merit badges, five of which are in first aid. personal health, public health, phys- . leal development and life saving or pioneering. Three boys became Star Scouts last night, also. They are Richard Schug. Harold Melchi and Rolland Reppert. To become a Star Scout, a Scout must qualify for five merit badges of his own choosing. A total of 25 merit badges were awarded to seven Scouts last night, as follows: Harry Dailey — Badges in pioneering, athletics, reptile study and swimming. Robert Hite — Badges in athletics, cooking, life saving, scholarship and swimming. James Bulk — Badges in athletics, life saving, personal health and swimming. Harold Zwick — Badges in marksmanship. scholarship and swimming. Richard Schug—Badges in cycling and scholarship. Harold Melchi—Badges in athletics, life saving, scholarship and swimming Rolland Reppert-—Badges in marks(CONTINUED ON PAGE TWO)

)ly The I'nllrd I’n-an Inli-rualloual Nrna Svr»l,-e

War Ace Is Killed I ■■**... * I'Sh Wil ■kk J ■MS*, /SL ! z I' d /// : When his plane crashed at Provi-, I dence, R. 1., during an air meet. Clifj ton Thompson. Lafayette Escadrille ! ace, burned to death before the eyes of his bride of a few months. Osmond Mather, of Hartford. Conn., also met death in the crash. PUBLIC TOILET CLOSED AT NIGHT I County Has No Fund For Employing Custodian At Court House At Night The county commissioners will not employ a man to supervise the men's 1 toilet room in the basement of the l court house, it was stated today. The ! county dees not have an appropriatin'! iof available funds, a man could not l be employed. i The commissioners, it was stated. ] do not believe that the county should I be put to the extra expense of keepj ing a man on duty at nights in order to guard the place. Due to the wilful destruction of toilets and fixtures in the test loom, the place has not been ' opened at nights this year and 'he I commissioners will not open it at pre sent. Boys or men maliciously clogge 1 the toilets and broke fixtures in the room and. some months, the repalts ran as high at S3O to SSO. Tin tobacco cans, bottles and even watermelon rinds wete stuffed into the toilets, which necessitated taking up the fixtures, at great expense. The room has been just remodeled and new fixtures have been installed and the county commissioners do not intend to give the property destroyers an opportunity to destroy the place. The toilet room is epen during the day when Custodian Mat Breiner looks after the place. The commissioners would like to keep the place open al night and especially on Saturday nights and Sunday, hut will net do so unless a man is in charge. It has been suggested that the citv policemen be detailed to the place or that a man be employed by the city or some organization. The Decatur Woman’s Club employs a matron at the Ladies Rest room in the Library. o Program For G. E. Band Concert Is Announced The following proggram will be given by the General Electric band this evening, on Liberty Way, starting at 8 o’clock: March, “Washington Grey"— Barnhouse. Descriptive overture, "Skypilot”— H. L. King. Overture. “Sunnyland"—S. J. Mustol. Medley overture, “Memory of Days Gone By"—S. E. Morris. , Valse overture, “Moonlight on the Nile”—King. March, “Burr Triumphal”—Alexander. “Star Spangled Banner.” 0 Monroe Woman In Auto Accident Near Marion. O. Mrs. Emma Heyerly, of Monrtoe, and four Bluffton girts, Marie Elizabeth Lydia and Frieda Kaehr es, caped injury when their automobile upset at. a sharp turn in the road near Marion, Ohio, Monday. They were retaining from a three weeks motor tour in the east. They traveled 2,700 miles’ in all. The party was able to continue to their home in their own ear, although it was damaged j considerably.

Price Two Cents

ELEVEN BUILDINGS ARE DESTROYED; LOSS IS SI 00,000 Firemen From Three Neighboring Cities Help In Conquering Flames WATER PUMPED FROM FARM HALF MILE AWAY South Milford, Ind., July 31.— HNS) — After destroying eleven I buildings with the loss in excess <>f SIOO,OOO, the fire which was 'sweeping South Milford was i brought under control at 3:00 o’clock this afternoon, by tire- ! men from three neighboring cities. he firemen laid a hose line tn a farm a half mile soutn of the city, and pumped the water to the burning main street. Origin Is Mysterious The flames broke out mysteriously in the Will Walker grocery store. Fire departments from IxiGjange, Kendallville and Wolcottville aided the local firemen in fighting the blaze. o— Rev. Fernthei) And Family Go To Cincinnati For Month The Rev. Harry H. Ferntheil, paster of the First Presbyterian church of this city, and his wife and two children, left today for Cincinnati, Ohio, where they will spend a month. Rev. Ferntheil expects to do Research work in the University of Cincinnati while there, doing work toward his PhD. degree. Mrs. Ferntheil and children will visit with relatives and friends. o — Want Planes To Fly High Fort Wayne. Ind.. July 31 —«J.R> — An ordinance prepared by the park commissioners will be presented at an early session of the .city council to prohibit flying planes lower than 1,000, feet above the city. If passed, the'or dinance will be this city's first aviation regulatoiy measure. Freight Train Kills Man Carbon. Ind., July 31 (U.R) —Wesley Youmans, 65, who lost an arm in a mine accident several years ago, was instantly killed when struck by a Big Four freight train at a crossing here. Crushed By Threshing Machine Rushville, Ind., July 31 —(INS) —Fred Stewart. 35, was dead heie today as the result of being crushed between a pulley on a threshing separator and a gate post. He lived on a farm two miles south of Peppertown in Franklin county. A widow and one child survived Stewart. o Sheriff Takes Two Men To State Penal Farm Sheriff Harl Hollingsworth and a deputy took Archie Smith and Bud Burrell to the state penal farm at Putnamville, early this mottling. Burrell will be required to lay out his fine, amounting to S4O. Smith was fined SIOO and costs and sentenced to 30 days. He will have about 170 days to spend at the faun. BAYONETS USED TO DISPERSE MOB National Guardsmen Battle Textile Workers On Strike In Massachusetts New Bedford, Mass., July 31. —(U.R) —National guardsmen used bayonets last night to disperse a mob of 10,000 strike sympathizers who milled about police headquarters after 256 pickets had been arrested. One man was reported to have suffered a bayonet wound. For a time it was feared that the throng would storm police headqarters. The situation became so menacing that Mavo Charles S. Ash- , ley called out a battery of 120 guardsmen. . It. was believed toda if the situation continued tense, the mayor again • would import police from other east- ’ ern Massachusetts cities as he did last r Saturday when one group of strikers s planned n parade for which no perr mit had, been issued. After the arrival ol guardsmen last. b night, two deputy sheriffs ordered the r crowd to disperse. Then, the militia I charged the mob and drove them 'from the street.

YOUR HOMI PAPER—t LIKE ONE OF THE FAMILY